PIANOSCORE BlOG

​The I scale degree is where music starts and ends. It is called the tonic.

​The vi scale degree can also serve as the tonic as well as the iii.

​Movement from the I and vi scale degrees is always to the V scale degree. The V is called the dominate. It creates harmonic instability and leads back to the tonic.​When I moves to vi and back to I it is normally through a I6.

​But like the tonic, the V scale degree also has another chord that can function as a dominate. It is the diminished vii.So I and vi can go directly to viidim and V or move towards the viidim and V through the pre-dominant .

​The IV scale degree is called pre-dominate meaning it leads to the dominate.The ii scale degree is also pre-dominate. The ii in first inversion (ii6) is actually more common than the IV.